Keywords

Abstract

Grounded in structural family theory, the present study examined how positive coparenting relates to couple satisfaction and to positive parenting for predominantly lowincome Mexican American and non-Latino white heterosexual couples. The sample was selected as a subset from the Supporting Father Involvement study, based in California. Participants included 73 mono-racial/ethnic families (56.2% Mexican American and 43.8% non- Latino white), each including a youngest child under age 11. Couple Discussion Task ratings from observed coparenting interactions were tested for associations with: 1) self-reported couple satisfaction, and 2) Parent-Child Interaction scales derived from observed parent-child interactions. Results indicated that the connection/cohesiveness aspect of coparenting is associated with both couple satisfaction and positive parenting. In addition, race/ethnicity was found to moderate relationships between coparenting and a) couple satisfaction and b) positive parenting. As such, agreement and teamwork among couples was associated with higher couple satisfaction for non-Latino white participants, but not for Mexican American couples. Associations between coparenting and positive parenting for the two groups were more similar than not, but coparenting was related to some aspects of positive parenting for non-Latino white fathers that it was not for Mexican American fathers. Further examination of these results is detailed and the need for future studies to examine the role that race/ethnicity plays in relationships between coparenting, couple satisfaction and parenting is emphasized.